Comments on: Using Apple’s AirTunes

By: sam

sam — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 11:50:59 +0000

In my lounge i have an apple TV for the TV plus airport express to act as a wireless extender. if I used Toslink to connect speakers in the lounge to the apple TV then would this give me the audio for iTunes music and videos (but not TV and DVD) in the lounge. If i then wired the outside speakers to the airport express could i then have, through home sharing, another zone outside where i could stream music from the iPad source to outside while at the same time a movie from the itunes library was played via apple TV on the inside speakers? i.e 2 zomes playing from 2 sources at teh same time.

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 19:08:17 +0000

Very interesting article, thanks! Is there any “hack” that will allow me to have two different streams playing in two different airports at the same time?

By: Joe Quinn

Joe Quinn — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:19:57 +0000

Yes, and yes. They are really quite versatile.

Joe

By: Brad

Brad — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:06:36 +0000

If a unit is hardwired, will it also still be able to operate wirelessly? So, I could include it in a multi-zone stream from ITunes on a computer or separately stream wirelessly from an IPhone?

By: Joe Quinn

Joe Quinn — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:33:43 +0000

Hi Brad,

Yes, you can have some of the units hardwired and others wireless, and stream to both simultaneously.

Joe

By: Brad

Brad — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:17:23 +0000

Thank you Joe. I think I am going to give it a try. Seems to me that an Apple based system that is flexible in the future (ie enhanced Airport Express, Apps, etc) is better than using a Sonos type system (small time company, hard-wired system that will become obsolete).

Do you know if the Airport can be used as WAN and LAN at the same time? Meaning, if I hard wire all Airport Express units to avoid interference and therefore limit myself to one stream of audio via the wired system, can one of the zones still stream wirelessly? So, I could stream wired via a laptop using the remote app to say 8 zones on the first floor of the house and then wirelessly to a single zone on the second floor if I choose?

Thanks! I’m quite the novice so your advice is very much appreciated!

By: Joe Quinn

Joe Quinn — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:55:33 +0000

Hi Brad,

Apple does not specifically state how many units can be deployed on a single network. Per the following link:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1515?viewlocale=en_US

Apple says 3-6 units depending on environmental factors, but this only applies if using each unit wirelessly. Hard wiring them is an option, as the single RJ-45 port can act as either a WAN or LAN connection, and I would assume one could use more than the 3-6 specified by Apple.

Also, please be aware that such a setup as you are describing only allows a single stream of audio to be transmitted to each zone i.e one source to multiple destinations/zones (you can, however, independently activate or deactivate each zone).

Hope this helps.

Joe

By: Brad

Brad — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:41:46 +0000

PS This is going into a new construction home so I have the ability to hard wire the Airport Express units if wireless interference will be a drawback. I am thinking of wiring each zone to a central distribution point which will house the Airport Express units and the amplifiers. Ceiling and wall speakers will then be in each zone. Do you think this will work? Thank you.

By: Brad

Brad — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:40:27 +0000

Hi. I’m investigating a whole house audio system using as many as 10 to 12 Airport Express zones. Do you know if there are limitations to this? Will the Remote app display that many destinations?
Thank you.

By: Rob McCance

Rob McCance — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:39:55 +0000

Tnx buddy!